Abstract: An image pickup device of the frame transfer type having an image pickup array and a storage array each of which consists of a number of cells forming row and column, in which the number of cells in the horizontal direction of the storage array is twice or more times the number of cells in the horizontal direction of the image pickup array. This device has a switching apparatus for selectively transferring the information of each column of the image pickup array to one of a predetermined plurality of columns of the storage array.

Abstract: An image pick-up system in which the accumulation time of accumulation type image pick-up elements and the gain of an amplifier for amplifying the output of the pick-up elements are controlled through an accumulation time and gain control device on the basis of the brighness of the image light received by the pick-up elements. In a preferred embodiment, the control device has a predetermined accumulation time and gain control program and controls the accumulation time and the gain according to the program.

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal accumulating time control method for a signal accumulating type radiation sensing device which produces an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident radiation and accumulates the same. According to the improvement of the present invention, the accumulating time is controlled by successive approximation at different intervals when there happens a situation in which the accumulating time must be changed greatly.

Abstract: A still picture recording apparatus comprising: a solid-state image pick-up device having an image pick-up part or image sensing part for generating charges in response to an incident light, a memory part for taking the charges generated by the image pick-up part and for temporarily storing them, and a readout part for reading out the stored charges from the memory part; a recorder for recording a video signal to be output from the image pickup device; and a controller for controlling the recorder and the image pick-up part, this controller enabling the recorder to record a still picture and causing the image pick-up part to prevent overflow charges which are generated by the image pick-up part from flowing into the memory part in the image pick-up device during the recording of the image pick-up signal by the recorder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a signal integration time of signal integration type image sensing device having a plurality of signal integration type radiation-sensitive elements. An integrated value of the signal from at least one of the radiation-sensitive elements is monitored without contact. When the integrated value of the signal from this element reaches a predetermined value after initiation of the signal integration, a control signal is generated to start readout of the signals from all the elements up to this point.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image pick-up device which uses a charge transfer type solid state image pick-up device, and a shutter so as to form a high quality picture signal in which smear is prevented by prohibiting the incidence of the light on the device while the charge is transferred in the device. The device is driven by a clock signal for still photography in order to assure high quality picture information for one frame. The photographic parameters are automatically changed or the monitor is changed between the motion picture photography mode and the still photographing mode.

Abstract: A photo-detecting device employed for photo-detecting a storage type photo-sensor which produces information stored therein according to light inputs on the form of signals integrated in a real time and nondestructive manner. Timing for reading out the output of the photo-detecting apparatus by a control circuit which controls on the basis of the output of the photo-detecting apparatus is to be determined according to the output of the photo-detecting apparatus when the photo-detecting means stores information corresponding to the light inputs. A period of time after storage is started by the photo-detecting means and before the information is read out by the control circuit is determined during the process of storing the information.

Abstract: In a signal accumulating time control method and apparatus for a signal accumulating type radiation sensing device which produces an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident radiation and accumulates the same, an accumulating time controller has first and second different control modes and is adapted to change over from one of said first and second control modes to the other when the intensity of said incident radiation fluctuates a large amount.

Abstract: A charge transfer device has a shift register, wherein the shift register comprises converting section for converting an input signal from the outside into charges; a transfer section for transferring said charges; and an input gate section for transferring the charges obtained in this converting section to the transfer section. The level difference gradient of the potentials in the input gate section is formed in the direction opposite to the level difference gradient of the potentials in the transfer section.

Abstract: In the device disclosed, an image formed by an optical system is scanned by an image sensor composed of independently arranged photoelectric transducing elements to produce an image scanning signal. A detecting circuit detects the variation of the brightness between the adjacent image elements as a measure of the sharpness of the image and the focus of the optical system. The focus detection accuracy is improved by non-linear transformation of the brightness variation signal with a non-linear transformation circuit that weighs the brightness variation signal on the basis of the signal level. A signal forming circuit detects the difference between the outputs of transducing elements and adds the differences to produce a comparator signal when a predetermined relationship is reached between the sharpness indication and the addition signal.

Abstract: In the disclosed image signal processing device, an area type CCD with an input shift register and an output shift register, is used as a band converting element or, by recycling the output of an output register to an input register, is used as a reproducing device for a still picture, by carrying out an analog to digital conversion in the process of the recycling, the S/N of the signal is increased.

Abstract: A system for generating an electrical indication indicative of an image scansion, comprising in combination: image sensing means including a plurality of one-dimensional image sensing arrays arranged in parallel with each other, each of the sensing arrays being for generating an electrical indication indicative of a line scansion of a portion of an image; storage means including a plurality of one-dimensional storage arrays arranged in parallel with each other; and control means for controlling the image sensing means and the storage means, the control means causing the sensing means to successively form, at a selected one of the sensing arrays, composite electrical indications each being composed of a selected plural number of the line scansion indications and causing the storage means to successively store the composite electrical indications formed by the sensing means.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus is disclosed which includes a focusing optical system for forming an object image on a predetermined focal plane and photoelectric devices disposed before and behind the focal plane at substantially equal distances from the plane. The photoelectric devices detect the focus states of the object images formed thereon respectively. The focus state of the object image on the focal plane is detected depending on whether or not the focus states on the photoelectric devices are equal to each other. According to the invention such a focus detecting apparatus further includes a mask for gradually decreasing the quantity of light incident upon the photoelectric devices in the direction away from the center of the incident beam. Under the action of such a mask, the focus states of object images before and behind the predetermined focal plane at substantially equal distances from the focal plane are made approximately equal to each other.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device having a matrix array of resolution cells from which the charges are successively transferred to produce a video signal is provided with means for holding the charges for the two resolution cells adjacent to each other in a direction corresponding to the vertical scanning line for the television signal to permit the charges from the aforesaid adjacent resolution cells to be interrelated with each other. In this manner the resolving power in the vertical direction is improved.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus determines optically whether an object is located within a first range of distances from the apparatus or a second range of distances from the apparatus. A radiation projecting arrangement projects a beam towards the object and a receiving arrangement disposed a predetermined distance transverse to the object direction receives the radiation reflected from the object. A pair of radiation sensors in the receiving arrangement each produce an electrical output corresponding to the received radiation. A circuit responds to the outputs of the sensors to determine whether the object is located within a first range or a second range. The circuit arrangement connects the radiation sensors so as to subtract their outputs, and one of the sensors is provided with a more extensive radiation receiving area than the other. This extends one of the range of distances.

Abstract: A camera system has a camera main body which has a focus detecting device for detecting a focusing state of a photographic optical means in a photographic lens assembly mounted, a display responsive to an output signal from the focus detecting device, and a contact for transmitting the output signal of the focus detecting device to outside of the camera main body. In this camera system, the camera main body are usable with a photographic lens assembly of first type which has an automatic focusing device which is capable of automatically focusing the photographic optical system on the basis of the output signal from the focus detecting device, and with a photographic lens assembly of second type which does not have such an automatic focusing device. When the camera main body is combined with the photographic lens assembly of first type, automatic focusing of the photographic optical system may be performed.

Abstract: In the device disclosed, a plurality of light receiving elements each form an electric charge corresponding to the amount of light incident thereon, and a divider divides the charge generated at each of the light receiving elements into a number of parts and thereafter adds the charge parts divided according to a predetermined pattern. According to an embodiment, one divided charge part of one element is added to the charge part of an adjacent element to form an interpolation value.

Abstract: This specification discloses a detecting device provided with means for receiving radiation coming from an object and producing an electrical signal related thereto, focus detecting means for processing the produced electrical signal and producing a focus discrimination or determination signal, the detecting means forming a focus related or parametric signal in the course of the processing of the electrical signal, and relative movement detecting means coupled to the focus detecting means to detect the relative movement between the object and the device on the basis of the focus related or parametric signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state imaging device which comprises an imaging unit having a plurality of picture cells arranged in at least one line for producing electrical information in response to incident radiation; a read-out unit for reading out said electrical information from said imaging unit, said read-out unit including m separate read-out channels, where m is an integer no smaller than three; and an input unit for dividing the electrical information in one line of said imaging unit into m groups, parallel-to-serial converting the respective groups of electrical information and supplying the serial information to said read-out unit.

Abstract: A radiation sensing device includes radiation sensor for generating an electrical indication indicative of the distribution pattern of received radiation, a storing device for storing the electrical indication generated by the sensor, and a read-out device for reading out the stored electrical indication from the storing device. The sensor includes a first plurality of sensing elements, while the storing device includes a second plurality of storage elements. The second plurality is fewer than the first plurality.